Key controlled cylindrical lock



Dec. 27, 1960 v. MUTTART 2,966,054

KEY CONTROLLED CYLINDRICAL LOCK Filed March 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR MATTORNEY KEY QONTROLLED CYLINDRICAL LOCK Vincent Muttart,Downey, Califi, assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitehburg, Mass.,a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 645,774

2 Claims. (Cl. 70-146) This invention relates to cylindrical locks andmore particularly to key controlled cylindrical locks. Still moreparticularly, this invention relates to cylindrical locks of the typecommonly known as exit locks, which include an outer key controlledlatch operating assembly and an inner latch operating assembly, with adogging push or turn button for optionally dogging said outer knobagainst operation other than by key operation.

Known to me are lock assemblies of the type described in which a pushbutton or turn button on the inside knob actuates a dogging mechanismwhich precludes latch operation for retraction by the outer knob, suchouter knob retraction being possible only by simultaneously operating akey controlled mechanism on the outer door and the outer door knob. Inthe known installations which employ push button dogging means, latchretraction by key operation results in releasing the dog, andconsequently the push button must be reset after each such operation.

While certain installations using turn button dogging means haveadditional means for preventing dog release following key operations,such installations require connection of the key plug to the inner dooroperating mechanism. Such connection requires the fabrication of heavymetal parts, due in part to the relatively great distance such connectormust span, and also due to the fact that any operation of the innermechanism necessitates turning against the biasing pressure not only ofthe latch bolt springs, but also of the inner mechanism springs, to coordinate the inter-engaging parts. Key operation of such known assemblyis likewise rendered more difficult by reason of the additional springbiasing as above mentioned, and because of the additional frictionalresistance of the inner mechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a key controlledlock assembly having and adding novel improved features over and to theassembly disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 584,993, filedMay 15, 1956, now Patent No. 2,885,880, issued May 12, 1959, entitledTnrnbutton Assembly for Cylindrical Locks.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lock assembly of thetype described which will permit repeated key operations of the latchbolt without necessirating resetting of the push button or turn buttondogging means after any such operation.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide an assembly of thetype described wherein comparatively little torque is required to beapplied to the key, to accomplish latch retraction.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide an assembly of thetype described which may be economically manufactured as by theformation of the parts from simple metal stampings, without sacrificingrequisite strength for long life operations.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a lock assembly ofthe type described, with a novel key holdback feature whereby fullrotation of the key plug ,7 2,966,054 Patented Dec. 27, i;

serves not only to retract the latch bolt, but also to retain the springprojected bolt in said retracted position, without the necessity ofmanually maintaining a turning pressure on the key, whereby single handoperation is made possible.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawingforming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a keyin-knob turnbutton cylindrical lock assembly;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a key-in-knob pushbutton cylindrical lock assembly;

Figure 3 is a magnified section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the key connector assembly.

My invention may be summarized as concerning itself with a class ofkey-in-knob cylindrical locks of the exit door type wherein anescutcheon assembly provides a sup port for independently rotatable,knob controlled spindles, each one of which is coupled with retractormeans for latch bolt actuation, upon rotation of the knobs and/orspindles coupled therewith.

In such assembly, the exterior knob is dogged by radially directeddogging means under the influence of a lock bar axially and tiltablymovable by a turn button or push button, rotation or depression of theturn button or push button, respectively, serving to project and tiltthe lock bar to dogging position, there to retain said bar. Upon keyactuation, separate means are provided for withdrawing the latch boltwithout disturbing the inner actuating mechanism on the dogging portionassociated with the outer mechanism.

The resulting assembly permits retractor activation of the latch bolt bykey actuation, without resetting, in each cycle of operation, theestablished dogged position of the exterior knob. The provision, on thekey actuated means, of a finger which in the fully rotated position ofthe key plug lies tangential to the latch retractor, prevents the latchbolt from returning to the normal outward position thereof, withoutnecessitating continued manual holding of the key.

Making reference to the drawing, 1 illustrate my invention in connectionwith a cylindrical knob assembly 10, which is arranged to be mountedupon a door 11, to extend through a transverse boring 12 coupled to alatch bolt casing 13, projecting through the end boring 14, in relationto the door frame 15 having the latch bolt strike aperture 16. In theillustration, there is provided a latch bolt 17 which isspring-projected in relation to the casing 13, the latter beingsupported by the end plate 18 on the door edge in the usual manner.Rearwardly, the latch bolt casing has a latch bolt shank guide 19 extending substantially diametrically across the boring 12.

The latch bolt shank guide 19 is supported in the boring 12 by means ofthe assembly comprising the inner and outer escutcheon support plates 20and 21, and the tubular studs 22 and 23 which screw-threadedly clamp theescutcheon supporting plates 26 and 21 against opposite faces of thedoor by means of the screws 24. The tubular studs 22 and 23 engage thelatch bolt casing guides 19 and cooperate with the end plate 18 to fixthe latch bolt casing in the end boring 14, previously described.

The support plates 20 and 21 have inwardly directed annular flanges 25and 26 forming bearings rotatively mounting the inner and outer knobspindles 27 and 28, respectively. The spindles 27 and 28 are tubular andcarry inner and outer knobs 29 and 30, respectively.

Each of the knobs 29 and 30 has a knob shank 31 and 32, held in anescutcheon bearing or hub 33 and 34, respectively. The outer knobspindle 28 has a pair of diametrically spaced lugs 35 extending inlocked engagement through a retractor plate 36. The plate 36 has axiallydirected retractor arms 37 for engaging a pivoted retractor lever 38 bywhich the latch bolt shank 39 is engaged for bolt retraction inopposition to the springprojected latch bolt 17, previously described,details of which need not be amplified in view of the features of theinvention herein claimed.

The retractor plate 36 has slidably mounted thereon in parallelism aclogging member 40, having a dogging nose 41. The dogging member isnormally spring-retracted by the spring 42. The dogging nose 41 may beprojected against the biasing influence of the spring 42 into thedogging slot 43 formed in the flange 26, thereby to key the spindle 28against rotary movement.

The inner knob spindle 27 is provided with a pair of axially extending,diametrically positioned lugs 44 which engage a retractor plate 45,forming an end bearing on the flange 25, to hold the spindle knobassembly rotatably on the escutcheon support plate 20.

The retractor plate 45 is formed with a guide slot 46 through whichextends the lock bar 47 in keying engagement against rotation. The lockbar 47 may, within limits, axially slide in the guide slot 46 to havethe edge 48 of the lock bar in contact with the edge 49 of the slot 46in the plate 45 under the partial biasing influence of thespring-retracted dog 40, as well as that which will appear herebelow.

The lock bar 47 has at its outer end a T-shaped head 50 which isrotatably and tiltably mounted in a bearing aperture 51 of thecylindrical cap 52, to secure a relatively universal coupling of thelock bar 47 and cap 52. The latter is rotatably and slidably mounted inthe spindle 27, as will appear herebelow. A coiled spring 53 has itsopposite ends biased against shoulders 54 formed on one end of the lockbar 47, and at its other end against the plate 45, thereby furtherretaining the edges 48 and 49 intact.

The cap 52 is formed with a pair of struck-up lugs 55, bent over andaxially holding the turn button shell 56, and within which the head 50is housed free for rotation and tiltable movement in relation to thebearing aperture 51.

The lock bar guide cap 52 is formed with a circumferentially directedslot 57, having an entrance portion 58 which is axially directed, and aterminal detent portion 59. Between the entrance portion and detentportion, the slot wall is outlined by a circumferentially directedcamming edge 60, leading to a detent seat 61.

The cap 52 is arranged to cooperate with a follower stud 62 in the formof a protrusion struck up or formed on the spindle 27, which is arrangedto enter the slot 58 to provide a coupling in the nature of a bayonetjoint and has the terminal portion of the slot formed with a detent. Itwill thus be seen that inward pressure and a 90 rotation of the turnbutton 56 in relation to the follower protrusion 62 will feed the lockbar 47, bayonetslot fashion, inwardly for the distance outlined by theslot 57 and camming edge 60, and conversely the outward limitingmovement of the lock bar under the expansive action of the spring 53being determined by the stop provided by the point where the cap 52engages the knob 29 at the axially positioned bearing aperture 63 forthe turn button 56.

The inward driving of the lock bar 47 under the pressure feed androtative action of the turn button 56 will move the lock bar 47 throughthe slot 46 in the plate 45. A camming edge 64 on the lock bar 47 duringsuch driving movement engages the edge 49, tiltably to move the lock bar47 about the head 55 as a center. The lock bar 47 has its free end 65guided in the dog 40. Tilting movement of the lock bar 47, as described,against the pressure of the spring 53 will thereby project the doggingnose 41 into the slot 43, dogging the spindle 28 with the flange 26, theflange 26 thereby preventing latch retraction by rotation of the outerknob 30.

The rotating plug 65 of the tumbler assembly 66 is provided with a pairof inwardly extending, axially aligned fingers 67. A cup 68, formed withan extending flange 69, having peripheral cut outs 70, is keyed to theplug 65 by sleeving holes 71 over the fingers 67.

A tubular inner spindle 72 is provided with cars 73 which are meshedwithin the cutouts 70 of the cup 68. The inner end 74 of the spindle 72is provided with a lug 75 and an axially, inwardly extending finger 76.

The retractor plate 36 has an arcuate slot 77 formed therethrough and inwhich the finger 76 may be slidably positioned. The retractor lever 38has its outer end formed with an angularly displaced projection 78.

When the lug assembly is in the dogged position, the latch bolt may beretracted by key actuation, the operation therefor taking place asfollows.

Upon key actuation, the plug 65 and the finger 67 impart a rotary motionthrough the cup 68 to the inner spindle 72, thereby swinging the finger76 through the arcuate limiting slot 77. Such rotation pivots theretractor levers 38 (see Figure 6) from the position indicated by A tothe position indicated by B. When the retractor lever 38 is thus swung,the latch bolt shank guide 39 which is operatively connected to thelever 38 is withdrawn, with consequent withdrawal of the latch bolt 17.It will be readily recognized that such withdrawal is accomplishedwithout disturbing the dogged position of the retractor plate 36.

When the plug 65 is rotated sufliciently far so that the finger 76occupies the B position, the angularly displaced projection 78 liestangentially of the arcuate slot 77 and the finger 76, and therefore thenormally outwardly biasing pressure of the retractor lever springs 79and the latch bolt spring 80 are ineffectual to cause reverse rotationof the key plug. It will be understood that in this position the latchbolt will remain retracted without requiring further manual pressure onthe key.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is in all respects similar to thepreviously described embodiment of Figure 1 except that a push buttonlock bar projecting arrangement is provided. Similar parts are similarlynumbered and only the variations will hereafter be described.

The lock bar 47 in the embodiment of Figure 2 is projected andmaintained in the dogging position by an inward pressure applied to thepush button 81. Upon axial inward depression of the push button, the camface 82 engages a stationary shoulder 83, imparting to the lock bar 47an upward tilting as well as an axially inward motion.

The lock bar is maintained in the dogging position by the engagement ofthe shoulder 84 on the inner surface of the stationary shoulder 83. Keylatch bolt retraction is accomplished in the same way as in the priorembodiment. In both embodiments it will be noted that the latch bar 47remains in dogging position following a key actuated latch boltretraction, thus obviating the necessity for resetting the dogging meansafter key actuation.

To undog the turn button embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, it isnecessary to twist the turn button cap 56 to its original position,whereas undogging is accom plished in the embodiment of Figure 2 byrotating the inner knob 85 in either direction.

By the construction shown, an assembly is provided which may be easilyand inexpensively manufactured primarily of metal stampings. Theillustrated and described assemblies have the additional advantages ofallowing latch retraction from the outside without necessitatingrotation of both the outer knob and the key rotatable plug.

Novelty is also attributed to the hold-back feature which permits thelatch bolt to be maintained in the fully retracted position, withoutmanually supporting the key.

A further advantage of my assembly resides in the fact that a minimum oftorsion need be applied to the key since, unlike other assemblies knownto me which require for their operation inter-connection between the keyplug and the inner knob assembly, my device operates directly upon thelatch bolt, thereby requiring a biasing of only a limited number ofsprings and also incurring a minimal frictional resistance.

The advantage of minimizing the torsion required to turn the key isobvious in view of the frequent fracturing of the key in the lock, oftendue to the relatively large stresses required for key operation oflocks.

While I have illustrated the use of my invention with the cylindricallock assembly, using inner and outer knobs as the primary means ofactuating the latch bolt, it is to be understood that my invention isequally applicable to assemblies which have thumb actuated retractors,as well as to assemblies which use dummy or non-rotatable outer knobs.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A door locking assembly comprising a support including escutcheonsfor holding the lock assembly mounted on a door, a spring projectedlatch bolt member mounted in said support, inner and outer knobsupporting tubular spindle members rotatably mounted in said support,dogging means axially carried by said inner spindle member and axiallyextended into said outer spindle member for dogging said outer spindlemember against rotation, a key plug rotatably sleeved within and carriedby said outer spindle member, a pivotal retractor for said latch boltmember operatively mounted on said support, a retractor operator carriedon said outer spindle member, said retractor operator being operativelyconnected as camming means and said pivotal retractor as follower meansto said latch bolt member to retract said latch bolt member, anauxiliary retractor operator independently rotatably sleeved in saidouter spindle member, said auxiliary operator having a retractor fingerextending inwardly from said auxiliary retractor operator, said fingerbeing guided in an arcuate path within a guiding slot on said retractoroperator when said key plug is rotated, and operatively connected withsaid pivotal retractor to actuate said pivotal retractor when said outerspindle member is in a dogged position.

2. A door lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pivotal retractorhas a terminal follower surface with which said auxiliary retractoroperator contacts during movement thereof, said follower surface beingnormal to said finger in the retracted position of said latch boltmember whereby the latch bolt member is held against spring retractingmovement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS720,986 Voight Feb. 17, 1903 1,017,283 Weed Feb. 13, 1912 1,991,031Schlage Feb. 12, 1935 2,618,955 Cerf Nov. 25, 1952 2,642,735 QuigleyJune 23, 1953 2,803,958 Gilbert Aug. 27, 1957

